Vanuatu PM Sato Kilman to form next government

The political party of Vanuatu's Prime Minister Sato Kilman says it has negotiated a Memorandum of Understanding with nine other political parties to form the next government.

National elections were held last Tuesday, but the country's electoral commission has not yet released any official results.

Mr Kilman has not made himself available to speak to the media, but a party official spoke to the Vanuatu Broadcasting and Television Corporation and confirmed that his People's Progressive Party had reached a deal to join with nine other parties.

Of the ten parties involved about half have only one Member of Parliament, and many are former coalition parties.

If unofficial results prove accurate, Mr Kilman's grouping will account for just over half of the 52-seat parliament.